Will a female martin be able to feed a nest of 5 all by her lonesome? I believe the male has deceased. I had a single male successfully fledge a nest of 3 out of the same gourd last year. I think there is a curse on that gourd.
I just worry about a single parent with 5 babies....
Any thought?
single parenting
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Greg
- Posts: 92
- Joined: Tue May 18, 2010 3:15 pm
- Location: Fuquay-Varina, NC
- Martin Colony History: As a child I managed a purple martin colony consisting of 3 houses on a tidal tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. I started my own colony at my house in Holly Springs, NC as an adult that grew to 27 pairs one year. In 2016 I moved and started a new colony in the spring of 2017 at my new home, which is about 7 miles south of my old colony. I successfully attracted my first ASY male in April of 2017. He quickly attracted a mate, followed by 7 more pairs. Grateful to have been able to start a new colony so quickly!
Greg H.
Holly Springs, NC
2011 - 2 pairs, 7 eggs, 7 hatch, 7 fledge
2012 - 13 pairs, 63 eggs, 52 hatched, 50 fledged
2013 - 21 pairs
2014 - 25 pairs
2015 - 27 pairs
2016 - 23 pairs removed 4 gourds this year.
2017 - moved and started a new colony which attracted 8 Pairs
2018 - first arrivals have come back....anticipating!
Holly Springs, NC
2011 - 2 pairs, 7 eggs, 7 hatch, 7 fledge
2012 - 13 pairs, 63 eggs, 52 hatched, 50 fledged
2013 - 21 pairs
2014 - 25 pairs
2015 - 27 pairs
2016 - 23 pairs removed 4 gourds this year.
2017 - moved and started a new colony which attracted 8 Pairs
2018 - first arrivals have come back....anticipating!
She will be fine. This year I have a widow with 7 babies to feed. It seems every year I have at least one who has lost a mate and they do fine. I'm sure they get tired though! Best wishes to yours.
Trisha
PMCA member
2019, 36 pair
PMCA member
2019, 36 pair
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Connie Roman ~ NJ
- Posts: 43
- Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2010 12:42 pm
- Location: Pennington/New Jersey
- Martin Colony History: Attracted my first pair in 2006.
I now have 5 gourd racks, offer 66 Gourds, and average 50 pair a year.
Greg,
Keep an eye on the nestlings. Last year I had an older ASY female raising 3 nestlings. The breastbone on the nestlings started to show and they were not as healthy looking as other birds their age. I hand fed them crickets twice a day.
I kept their gourd where it was, quickly removed all 3 babies, fed them quickly and put them back. I did one of the feedings during early afternoon when the colony was at its quiet time. If the weather is very hot; soak the crickets in Children’s pedialite (spelling?) first.
Good Luck.
Connie
Keep an eye on the nestlings. Last year I had an older ASY female raising 3 nestlings. The breastbone on the nestlings started to show and they were not as healthy looking as other birds their age. I hand fed them crickets twice a day.
I kept their gourd where it was, quickly removed all 3 babies, fed them quickly and put them back. I did one of the feedings during early afternoon when the colony was at its quiet time. If the weather is very hot; soak the crickets in Children’s pedialite (spelling?) first.
Good Luck.
Connie
2006 - First pair fledged 2
2013 - 53 pair fledged 128
2013 - 53 pair fledged 128
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Laverne
- Posts: 2216
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
- Location: TX/Alvin
- Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.
Hey Greg.
One year we had a late nest. That nest had four young. After all the other Purple Martins had moved on to the roost, we discovered this nest had a single ASY female playing the part of Mom. She was almost two weeks behind, but stayed here alone to care for her young until they fledged. Even after that, they stuck around for about five days until they all flew off into the setting sun.
We don't know if she lost her mate to death or if the father of her young was also the father of another nest. They say this happens frequently. I've seen it a couple of times -- I wouldn't call it frequent. She may have lost her original nest, eggs, young to a HOSP or Starling. She may have lost her mate to a hawk.
Some landlords have reported abandonment. They have found young left to die when the colony moves on. But, this lone female staying behind to raise her little family by herself tells a different story. I guess both situations occur. Every morning visiting martins would come and stay with her for hours. Then, she would be the only one out there flying around, catching bugs, feeding babies for the rest of the day. When they fledged she parked them in the top of a dead tree and we could see her flying around and feeding them at that spot. Then, one day, there was a vacancy. She was gone and she took them with her... and they didn't even wave goodbye... this is the part I don't like ... this quiet... this absence. Once she left, the visiting birds did not come back either...
One year we had a late nest. That nest had four young. After all the other Purple Martins had moved on to the roost, we discovered this nest had a single ASY female playing the part of Mom. She was almost two weeks behind, but stayed here alone to care for her young until they fledged. Even after that, they stuck around for about five days until they all flew off into the setting sun.
We don't know if she lost her mate to death or if the father of her young was also the father of another nest. They say this happens frequently. I've seen it a couple of times -- I wouldn't call it frequent. She may have lost her original nest, eggs, young to a HOSP or Starling. She may have lost her mate to a hawk.
Some landlords have reported abandonment. They have found young left to die when the colony moves on. But, this lone female staying behind to raise her little family by herself tells a different story. I guess both situations occur. Every morning visiting martins would come and stay with her for hours. Then, she would be the only one out there flying around, catching bugs, feeding babies for the rest of the day. When they fledged she parked them in the top of a dead tree and we could see her flying around and feeding them at that spot. Then, one day, there was a vacancy. She was gone and she took them with her... and they didn't even wave goodbye... this is the part I don't like ... this quiet... this absence. Once she left, the visiting birds did not come back either...
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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Virgil McCoy
- Posts: 302
- Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2010 3:06 pm
- Location: Louisiana/Alexandria
- Martin Colony History: Purple Martin Landlord since 2006
A male Martin sometimes has more than one mate which would account for absence.
Proud to be a fourth generation Purple Martin landlord.